Down, May 21st [1868].
I know that you have been overworking yourself, and that makes you think that you are doing nothing in science.

If this is the case (which I do not believe), your intellect has all run to letter-writing, for I never in all my life received a pleasanter one than your last.

It greatly amused us all.

How dreadfully severe you are on the Duke (221/1.

The late Duke of Argyll, whose "Reign of Law" Sir J.D.Hooker had been reading.): I really think too severe, but then I am no fair judge, for a Duke, in my eyes, is no common mortal, and not to be judged by common rules! I pity you from the bottom of my soul about the address (221/2.
Sir Joseph was President of the British Association at Norwich in 1868: see "Life and Letters," III., page 100.